U.S. Julian Green (9) battles for the ball with Mexico defenders during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (AP Photo/Rock Scuteri)

FILE - In this April 2, 2014 file photo, United States forward Julian Green (9) warms up before a friendly soccer match against Mexico in Glendale, Ariz. Green is one of five German-Americans playing on the American World Cup team. (AP Photo/Rock Scuteri, File)

U.S. soccer player Julian Green, left, and his father, Jerry Green.

Photo courtesy of Jerry Green

Jerry Green knew his son Julian was special with a soccer ball, even at a young age. Julian was mature beyond his years, easily competing with older kids and often scoring at will "three to four goals every game."

"From very early on I knew Julian was going to be some sort of athlete," said Green, of Tampa. "He was a natural."

Few people have had more impact on his son's extraordinary rise in the world of international soccer than his father, who will watch as his son joins the U.S. National Team in its World Cup opener Monday against Ghana.

"He is so excited to be a player in the World Cup this year," his father said. "At this point he isn't nervous, but that could certainly change once the games begin."

Julian, 18, a midfielder, made the club in May when U.S. coach Jürgen Klinsmann cut the team's all-time scorer Landon Donovan, a move that startled teammates and the U.S. soccer officials.

So the spotlight will fall, fairly or unfairly, on Green - one of the youngest U.S. players to make the national team and who comes with big expectations, and a resume few U.S. players had at his age.

"It's a huge move on any international stage to pass on an established veteran like Donovan," said John Robinson, a former midfielder who played in 30 matches for the Welsh national team. "The limelight will be on Green and it's happening in the biggest tournament in the world."

Robinson, who coaches the Southwest Florida Adrenaline, a professional developmental league club in Naples, said, "Klinsmann sees a lot of top youngsters and [Julian] Green is already competing at a high level in Europe. He's 18 and competing against world class players."

Julian Green is currently a forward for Germany's Bayern Munich's junior team -- no small feat for a U.S.-born player to achieve in the brutally competitive world of European soccer. He's scored 15 goals in 23 appearances.

Bayern - one of the top teams in the world - called him up to the big club for a Champions League match, where he saw limited playing time but still drew attention.

Meanwhile Klinsmann - whose resume boasts a World Cup trophy with Germany, as well as having coached its national team - actively recruited Julian. But so did the German national team since Julian is a dual citizen. His mother Ursula is German and his father, a former U.S. serviceman, is American. He has an older brother named Justin.

The Tampa-born youngster moved to Germany with his mother when he was just 2 1/2. As a child, the family recalled, Julian played for his village team FC Miesbach and often - and easily - scored three goals-plus a game.

Jerry Green suggested to Julian's mother and coaches that Julian likely needed a more competitive environment. Julian joined a youth club SG Haushaum. Playing for stronger coaches and against increased competition, Julian's soccer career blossomed. He also caught the eye of Roman Grille, an agent and former Bayern Munich player.

Bayern developmental trainers invited Julian to participate in Saturday "drills" along with two hundred other kids. The drills allow team scouts to identify promising prospects. But weeks passed and the family heard nothing from the Bavarians. Then one day the Bundesliga champions called Julian's mother to invite her son to join its development system, not only a feeder system for Bayern but a source for the teenage national teams.

Julian played for the German Youth National under-16 and under-19 teams. He notched one goal for the under-16 squad. He also played for the U.S. junior teams, scoring once for the under-18 squad.

His big break came when he was called up by Bayern Munich and took the field in the high profile Champion League tournament in the 88th minute against CSKA Moscow - a move that drew headlines because a U.S.-born player was on the roster of Bayern, home to most of Germany's National team roster. (The U.S. faces Germany June 26.)

Jerry Green said German team coaches expressed interested in Julian, but Klinsmann actively recruited Julian -- who stood a better chance to join the U.S. squad this year. In March, Julian chose to play for the U.S.

"It was very tough decision for Julian," Green said. "But in the end I personally thought he would choose America."

Julian will be one of four U.S. players currently with German Bundesliga clubs, along with John Brooks, Timmy Chandler, and Fabian Johnson.

Robinson, the former Wales midfielder, said Julian's playing time may be limited, depending on how U.S. starters do in the tournament. Still, Robinson said, Julian can only benefit from this experience.

"He's playing for one of the top coaches in Klinsmann," Robinson said. "If Julian plays it will be a great test of his temperament and nerves and skills."

Julian played in an April friendly match against Mexico, seeing second half action. He did not see action in the U.S. 2-1 victory over Nigeria, in the final send off match before the World Cup.

Scouts consider Julian too skillful and fast and can only improve under Klinsmann and his father could not be happier with his son's decision: "I thought it was important for soccer fans in America to know about Julian."